So after a fairly long period of dithering, I'm going to vote for Romney and, less surprisingly, Scott Brown. The vote for Romney is, of course, wasted, as Massachusetts will go into Obama's column.

I could go on and on as to why, but essentially it boils down to this -- I've long stated that I want moderate candidates who have a more business-like approach to running government. I want them to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Under the current circumstances, I think it's even more important that we start being fiscally conservative (though not in a dramatic fashion such that the tepid recovery is undermined), and pro-business in order to encourage growth. I also cross my fingers that Mitt won't simply cave to the religious right and social conservatives to keep them in line. I know that his personal policies on such matters are, well, wishy-washy at best.

In voting for Romney, I'm not really rejecting Obama, as I don't think he's done such a bad job. He's had brutal circumstances, etc. I just think Mitt is the better candidate under the current circumstances.

And, frankly, I sorta feel like if I don't vote for Romney, then I might as well just admit I'd never vote for a Republican for POTUS. Usually their candidate is further to the right than I am comfortable with. Having nominated a more moderate candidate, I should reward that effort. Or something like that.

As for Brown, it's a relatively moderate Republican versus a die-hard liberal. I'll take the moderate.

Oh, and not that anyone on this board cares, but YES to right to die in Massachusetts and YES to medical marijuana in Massachusetts (noting that I've never tried pot in my entire life, and yes I'm serious).

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"I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington

I commend your reasonableness. I have to admit that I had my doubts that you'd pull the trigger for Romney (and your kind words for Obama are a bit disappointing), but I think your reasoning is sound. Romney is about as socially moderate as you can expect from the GOP in the sense that I don't think he will make social issues a focus of his administration. And it's hard to imagine a candidate from either party having more business executive experience and more of a campaign focus on addressing our fiscal and economic issues than he does.

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“The American people are tired of liars and people who pretend to be something they’re not.” - Hillary Clinton

More moderate than the right wingers on here will give him credit for, yes.

As I say, it was a close call for me. Rather than viewing this as a choice between two guys one of whom is a 1 on a scale of 1-10 and the other of whom is, whatever, a 6, 8 or 10, wherever these guys put him, I view it more like voting between two guys who are in the 5-6 range. Neither thrills me, and neither repels me.

Bottom line, though, is that the business of America needs to be BUSINESS. Right now that will help us more than anything else. If that means sacrificing in other areas I typically prioritize as well, so be it.

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"I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington

I commend your reasonableness. I have to admit that I had my doubts that you'd pull the trigger for Romney (and your kind words for Obama are a bit disappointing), but I think your reasoning is sound. Romney is about as socially moderate as you can expect from the GOP in the sense that I don't think he will make social issues a focus of his administration. And it's hard to imagine a candidate from either party having more business executive experience and more of a campaign focus on addressing our fiscal and economic issues than he does.

That neatly sums it up.

I think if you were more capable of taking off your partisan glasses, you'd see Obama as far more moderate and willing to compromise than you give him credit for. Unfortunately, the tendency around here is to demonize the other party, and that makes it impossible to do anything but paint him as Satan incarnate.

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"I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington

Not much of one, according to the polls, who have Warren up by 5 percentage points, and therefore outside of the margin of error. The trend has been toward Warren over the past month or so. Seems like a longshot. It's too bad, really. I like Brown by and large.

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"I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington

Not much of one, according to the polls, who have Warren up by 5 percentage points, and therefore outside of the margin of error. The trend has been toward Warren over the past month or so. Seems like a longshot. It's too bad, really. I like Brown by and large.

Yeah, but you'll at least get to say that you have an Indigenous Person as one of your senators.

__________________I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?